Two bands really were my favourites, Nevada werethe good news band,who always had some great singers and who always enjoyed themselves both on and off the stage.Tina,though for me was their best singer who always had time to chat to her fans ,everyone loved her! New Blues played country and pop ,had two brillant young singers in Keith Beattie and Carole Wallace plus some great musicians ,they were a very versatile band who had a loyal following.Keith had a hit with Spanish Disco,while Carole had a hit with her debut single. You Never Can Tell in1977.She had agreat voice probably better suited to country rather than pop.Offstage she was a very friendly lady .

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The history of Irish music is a continuing journey
Sligo, Ireland

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I have to say I really enjoyed Chips and the Memories as both were willing to try things other bands didn't. Chips played Steedy Dan stuff while I still think the Memories playing Bohermian Rhapsody has to be one of the most ambitious songs ever attempted by any band, anywhere. I also thought the early Plattermen were excellent, in some ways every bit as good as Blood, Sweat & Tears! Any others...?

Iagree with you about Chips,they were really good.When I saw Gina and The Champions they were very good, she had a tremendous voice and the band generally were great to dance to.Watching Ray Lynam in action at the Tara Club made me realise what a great voice he had which should have graced the Opry in Nashville,plus many bands had geat individual musicians,one could easily have formed a super band!

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The history of Irish music is a continuing journey
Sligo, Ireland

Gender: Posts: 117

Yes, I think there were a few great country singers overlooked because of the stigma of "country and Irish." Ray was certainly one of them and he also had a great band. It's kind of a pity that most of them, even Ray, just sang knock offs of American country hits. Not a lot of originality there, at least not that I knew off, but I could be wrong.

For any one who is interested Ray can still be seen on the local lounge scene and I have to agree that he is one of the great talants that we have overlooked, I had seen him perform numerous times over the years, and on a trip home a couple of years ago saw him in the lounge scene with the"Little Japanese Band" it has always amazed how small these Japanese players are.I have to admit it is nice to recall how pure his voice is.

Glad you liked "Chips". I joined the band just before the style changed from Steely Dan, Pink FLoyd, The Mamas and the Papas, Crosby Stills Nash and Young etc to a more pop oriented band. Sucessful yes but not quite as enjoyable to play. Anyway what about the original Freshmen? Rumour has it that when the Beach Boys played in Belfast with the Freshmen opening the show for them, that, that all the Beach Boys watched the whole set from the side of the stage. And by all accounts when they went onstage they were nowhere as good as the Freshmen.

Without doubt the best band of the late 70s and 80s was Gina Dale Haze and The Champions A fantastic group with two of the best singers in the land and they played a real top class sound and filled the halls from Donegal to Cork Great to know they are still entertaining in the south mostly Happy memoires indeed

Jimmy agree with you about Carole very versatile,underrated and a lovely lady as well.Mind you I liked Lola as well who was in New Blues before Carole.Lola who writes to me occasionly has a great voice,her version of Danny Boy,recorded at the Rivera Las Vegas in 1984 is excellent as well.

While I agree that most of the bands mentioned in the above posts were very good, you have to go back further to get to the really good showbands. The Capitol, Johnny Quigley,Donie Collins etc. But the best of all were the Royal.